Steam-thrasher regulator



(No Model.)

B. HOWLAND.

STEAM THRASHER REGULATOR.

No. 898,895. Patented Mar. 5,1889.

1177117558158, ZWVEWTOQQ, %a% b mvwys.

UnrTn STATES ATENT rrrcn.

EPIIRAIM ll'OlVLAND, OF PONTIAC, MICHIGAN.

STEAM-THRASHER REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 898,895, dated March 5, 1889.

Application filed January 10, 1889. Serial No. 296,017. (No model.)

culty has been experienced from the unsteady and irregular motion of the mechanism due to the variation of the amount of grain fed to g the tlnashing-cylindcr. The engine, together with the governor and its steamconnections, have been heretofore located at a considerable d istanccfrequently sixty to ninety feetfrom the tlnashii'lg-macllinc. Now, should the thrashing-cylinder become partially choked, its speed would be reduced. To re-establish the speed, the governor must act to admit more steam to the engine; but the impulse due to the slackened speed must first be communicated back through the long stretch of belt may inject it from either engine separately or other connections to the engine and produce a corresponding slackened motion there. Now, when the governor has had time to act, the renewed impulse due to the increased supply of steam must be communicated through the long belt or connections back to the thrashing-cylinder. By this time, in all probability, the cylinder has cleared itself of the obstruction, and the result is that the increased energy of the engine causes it to speed the thrashing-machine considerably beyond its normal before the governor finally readjusts itself and gets down to its proper work. Again, any irregularity in the motion of the thrashing-cylinder is imparted at once to the operative parts, so that it is of prime importance to maintain as nearly as practicable a uniform speed for this cylinder.

It is the object of my invention to overcome these difficulties by a combination and arrangementof devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side eleva tion of a thrashing-machinewith myimprove 7 incnts shown thereon.

Fig. 2 is a plan view 1 of the same.

In the above drawings- A represents the frame-work, of any ordinary thrasher or scpa lpistons, and G the ])ll1ll1ttll,0f the engines used to drive the mechanism. These are preferably located underneath and supported from the traniewvork of the thrasher; but the location of the engines is optional, since the adaptation of my invention to ditlerent styles of thrashers would necessitate a change of location of the engines thereon.

H is the exhaustpipe, which may carry the exhaust-steam to any desirable point. I may exhaust the steam at any given point, or 1 into the shoe at the back end of the sieves 011 either side or just after the separation of grain, chalt, and dust has occurred, for the purpose of aiding the fans or counteracting adverse winds. It is also apparent that it will dampen the dust, thereby rendering it less dittusible with the atmosphere, consequently leaving the air more pure about the thrasher, greatly to the benefit of the operatives.

.I is a shaft provided with cranhs j, to which the pitmen are attached.

K are pulleys located 011 either end of the shaft J, and are connected by belts 7. with th pulleys B B of the cylinder.

K. is an additional pulley located on the shaft J, and is connected with the balance of the mechanism by the belt 7;. This connection may be direct, as shown, or intermediate gearing may be employed, if desired.

L is a governor located at any suitable point on the steam-conduit D and adapted to control the admission of the steam through the said conduit. 'lnis governor is connected directly with the cylinder by the belt 1, although I do not limit myself to the belt-connection, since other forms of gearing would be equally applicable. The location of this governor is optional; but I prefer to locate it directly underneath the feed-board A and back of the partition A the latter being adapted to prevent straw and other debris from interfering with the governor.

M is any ordinary stop-cock located on the steam-conduit D; but I prefer to locaterit underneath the platform A on which the feeder stands. By extending the stem of this stop-cock up through the platform and providing it with a lever, m, the feeder can at will shut off the supply-of steam with his foot,

and thus stop the entire mechanism. Of course any form of stop-cock may be used and any means for placing the same under the control of the feeder may be used; but the form shown has been found preferable. The advantages of thus locating the governor on the separator and gearing it directly with the thrashing-cylinder are obvious.

The power of the engine is much greater than the resistance offered by the cylinder, and the engine has reserve energy stored in its fly-wheels and moving parts;the governor, on the other hand, is extremely sensitive to variations in the speed. When, therefore, there isthe slightest variation in the speed of the cylinder, the governor, being directly connected therewith, will be instantly affected, and will thus supply the extra amount of steam required to re-enforce the engines before the change in the speed of the cylinder has materially affected the engines. By this arrangement, whereby the speed is maintained more uniform than heretofore, a certain amount of steam and fuel is thus saved. So, also, by preventing too great speed at intervals there is saved the waste of grain which always accompanies such abnormal speed, and the machinery itself is saved the racking which such speed entails.

The location of the governor close to the feeder is of great advantage, forif he sees that his speed is too great or not great enough he may with ease regulate the governor without shutting down or without stopping the feed to his cylinders.

It will of course be understood that there may be a throttle-valve at the boiler as well as at the machine, so that steam may be turned on or off at the boiler, while the feeder or other operator at the machine may likewise turn on or turn off steam at this point should any emergency so require.

The feature of gearing the engine directly with the tlnashing-cylinder and that of gearing from both ends of the thrashirig-cylinder,

and the feature of the employment of twin en gines or two piston-engines geared with the same drive-shaft and that joined with the thrashing-cylinder, form no part of this present invention, but constitute the subject-matter of another application for Letters Patent.

hat I claim is- 1. The combination, with a thrashing-machine or separator, of a steam-engine located thereon and a governor adapted to regulate the steam-supply, said governor engaged directly with a moving part of the separator, whereby the motions are imparted im1nediately thereto, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a thrashing-inachine or separator, of a steam-engine located thereon anda governor adapted to regulate the steam-supply, said governor engaged directly with the cylinder of the thrasheror separator, whereby variations in the motion of the cylinder are imparted immediately, to the governor, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a thrashing-machine oi' separator, of a steam-engine located thereon beneath the body of the machine and between the sides, a steam pipe leading thereto, and a governor adapted to regulate the supply of steam to the engine, said governor engaged directly with the cylinder of the th'rasher or separator, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a thrashing-machine or separator, of a steam-engine located thereon and engaged with a drive-shaft, and a steam-supply pipe with a governor to regulate the supply of steamto the engine, both said drive-shaft and said governor connected directly with the shaft of the thrashing or separating cylinder, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a thrashing-ma chine or separator, of an operating steam-engine located thereon, an operating steam-supply pipe l-eadin'g thereto beneath the platform, and a governor located in an apartment above the steam-pipe and between the feoders position and the body of the machine, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a thrashing-machine or separator, of a steam-engine located thereon, a steam-supply pipe whereby it may be connected with a separate boiler, a governor on the machine, where-by is regulated the supply of steam to the engine, and a throttle-valve,-also on the machine and ad jacent to the feeder, whereby steam may be admitted to or cut off from the engine.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

EPHRAIM HOVLAND.

Vitnesses:

SAMUEL E. THOMAS, WV. H. CHAMBERLIN.

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